Test driving my new toy this evening! (brother dreamweaver xe)

Hi, I've been test driving my new toy this evening. It seems to be user friendly. I stitched out one of the built in designs to see how it would look. I think it turned out lovely. I have a question for anyone that has an embroidery machine. I stitched this design approximately 4". It will stitch out much larger. I used a stabilizer that can be left on it. I'm wondering if I would use some other type of stabilizer if I could cut the design out and make doilies out of them...Any tips or ideas would be appreciated. I bought several different types of stabilizer, but not sure when or where to use them. I also have the disolveable kind, but didn't know about that either or how to use it. Thanks for any help. I may stitch out some of the built in designs and make a wallhanging...my mind is going crazy with so many ideas...

If you use a washaway stablizer and stitch the design on it no fabric. then soak off the stablizer and let the lace work dry on a towel Looks like this particular design is a Free Standing Lace. so it should stand alone. try it all you waste is a few minutes and some thread and you've learned something new. Good luck. And have fun.

Enjoy Your Days -- Love Your Life.
Life is a journey to be savored.
MsCyndi in NM

i'm thinking that there's not enough bulk to the design for it to stand alone. i may be wrong, though. try the washaway stabilizer, let soak and then dry on a towel, as previously noted. but you might also try some starch after removing the stabilizer. another method, is to use fine tulle with the washaway. that way, after the stabilizer is gone, there is still a fabric behind the design but it will be almost invisible.

Nancy in western NYbefore you speak THINKT – is it True? H – is it Helpful? I – is it Inspiring? N – is it Necessary? K – is it Kind?

Designs are specially digitized(created) to be Free standing lace embroidery. This doesn't look like it would be but I agree with marybrace, your manual will tell you if it is. Stabilizers are a whole topic in themselves. There are literally hundreds to choose from. This is where I get mine. If you scroll down to the middle of the page, there are links to three articles that are very helpfulhttp://www.allstitch.net/department/....cfm?killnav=1

Also, if you got your machine from a dealer, take all the classes on using your machine. ask lots of questions. Terry cloth towels and knit Tshirts and Sweatshirts are all special cases that require different needles and backings.

"I do not understand how anyone can live without one small place of enchantment to turn to."
Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings

I have stitched out butterflies to add to tee shirts using silk organza and water solveable stablzers. They worked out well. G.D. does not like the tees with the embroidery on the shirt itself because the under side is rough against her skin. So I had the idea of the silk organza.

Nana - Spring, Texas

Acutally, Barbara; but all teachers and my granddaughters classmates only know "Nana"